Horror
Okay I'll confess and come out of the closet. I watch horror movies and I enjoy them. So there if that excludes me from heaven then umm... I'll become a nun and stop watching them. Anyway in the process of watching such movies I have noticed one thing (other than people are idiots) that there are roughly 3 different though not mutually exclusive types of horror. These are:
1) Slasher
2) Thriller
3) Demonic
The first type I believe to be characterised chiefly by such classics as 'Psycho' (the orginal Alfred Hitchcock black and white) and 'the Shining'. In fact anything by Alfred Hitchcock is a 'good' slasher. The chief thing that characterises this type of horror is the blood splatter. This is where this type of horror has its chief danger and can quickly become b-grade such as 'Arachnophobia' and 'Anaconda'. The first two have genuine suspense and shock, the second have cheap versions of the same things.
The second type (thriller) is characterised chiefly by 'Silence of the Lambs'. The chief thing that characterises this type of horror is the mental confusion inspired. This is where the two branches of Thriller separate. First there is the 'Conspirist'. This is characterised by 'Arlington Road' and to some extent 'Art of War' (which is not classic horror). This type prays on fears and paranoia as to whether they are out to get me. The second is the mess with the mind. This is characterised by 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Donnie Darko'. This type boggles the mind confuses logical thought patterns and reduces the brain to a gibbering heap.
The final type I cannot say I have had much to with but I imagine movies such as 'Ninth Gate' (which I have seen), 'End of Days', 'the Exorcist', and 'Event Horizon'(?) are included in this mix. This type of movie leaves one feeling very disturbed and sickened, more so than either of the other types. Since I have not seen many of this type I cannot break it down into subcategories and do not desire to.
Finally there appears to be some correlation between the way these movies affect me and the three different parts that make up a human being (body, mind, soul). The slasher flicks have more of a gut reaction and play upon humans natural aversion to blood. The thriller have more of a mind bending affect and as I said earlier a good one will leave the mind completely confused. The demonic lastly have an affect upon the soul. This is where I believe the deep sense of disturbance felt during this type of film comes from. Because of this and we don't know the effect such films have upon us I recommend that we avoid this type. As St. Paul said 'whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things'.
God bless you all.
1) Slasher
2) Thriller
3) Demonic
The first type I believe to be characterised chiefly by such classics as 'Psycho' (the orginal Alfred Hitchcock black and white) and 'the Shining'. In fact anything by Alfred Hitchcock is a 'good' slasher. The chief thing that characterises this type of horror is the blood splatter. This is where this type of horror has its chief danger and can quickly become b-grade such as 'Arachnophobia' and 'Anaconda'. The first two have genuine suspense and shock, the second have cheap versions of the same things.
The second type (thriller) is characterised chiefly by 'Silence of the Lambs'. The chief thing that characterises this type of horror is the mental confusion inspired. This is where the two branches of Thriller separate. First there is the 'Conspirist'. This is characterised by 'Arlington Road' and to some extent 'Art of War' (which is not classic horror). This type prays on fears and paranoia as to whether they are out to get me. The second is the mess with the mind. This is characterised by 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Donnie Darko'. This type boggles the mind confuses logical thought patterns and reduces the brain to a gibbering heap.
The final type I cannot say I have had much to with but I imagine movies such as 'Ninth Gate' (which I have seen), 'End of Days', 'the Exorcist', and 'Event Horizon'(?) are included in this mix. This type of movie leaves one feeling very disturbed and sickened, more so than either of the other types. Since I have not seen many of this type I cannot break it down into subcategories and do not desire to.
Finally there appears to be some correlation between the way these movies affect me and the three different parts that make up a human being (body, mind, soul). The slasher flicks have more of a gut reaction and play upon humans natural aversion to blood. The thriller have more of a mind bending affect and as I said earlier a good one will leave the mind completely confused. The demonic lastly have an affect upon the soul. This is where I believe the deep sense of disturbance felt during this type of film comes from. Because of this and we don't know the effect such films have upon us I recommend that we avoid this type. As St. Paul said 'whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things'.
God bless you all.
4 Comments:
I'm confused - doesn't that command mean we shouldn't watch any horror movies?
If the only difference between sub-types of horror is that they do the same thing to three divisions of us, then aren't they all just the same?
Hmmm.... I haven't watchd THAT much horror, but I HAVE seen event horizon and end of days.
Event Horizon - Not worth the $4.
A failed attempt at a sci-fi/horror meld that should never have happened. Starring Sam Neill as a spaceship designer, one of his experimental spaceships disappears when it tries his new warp engine. Only to reappear 2 years later, but with the clocks on the ship saying it had been gone 150 years, and no sign of life on board at all. People sent to investigate. Turns out the warp drive works by opening a gate to hell. Sam Neill becomes "possessed" by the ship (which is now sentient) and wanders around on a bloodthirsty rampage.
End of Days - I enjoyed this one.
An Arnie movie about how the book of revelation might play out if it happened today. Some cool stuff in it - no one is possessed to my knowledge. Really stupid Schwarzenegger movie culminating in a climactic battle between him and the beast (think balrog) in a church. Arnie saves the world yet again. :P
One other movie that I have seen that I warn others away from when talking about this sort of thing....
SE7EN - under NO cirumstances go and see this movie. I was physically sickened after I had watched it. It does not involve anything overtly "spiritual", but I do wish I had never seen it. In fact, out of all the movies I have ever regretted watching, I would have to rate that as the worst.
Cool post..... Keep 'em coming :)
I too have seen Se7en (at the recommendation of my mentor go figure) and would completely agree with Argenbar. However, it is not the worst movie I have ever seen and might recommend it to some with strong provisos. The worst, as in sickening/disturbing, movie I have ever seen is Clockwork Orange and would warn everyone away from it.
Another thing that I note about the 'demonic' rating based on my limited viewing is that in this type of movie good does not triumph over evil. Horrors generally have good triumphing, some Thrillers have evil triumphing but it is not the evil of the demonic.
Also, I know I am being slightly hypocritical with rating demonic movies as bad based on Paul's warning and not the others. My only defense is that demonic movies have a bad effect on me so am stating my limits. Maybe this means I am a mental gibbering heap who is completely desensitised or should quickly join the nunnery.
i managed to work out a wee while ago, that one of the reasons i'm so scared of the dark is all the horror movies i've watched in my time!
So now i hardly ever watch them!
I definately agree with most of your rantings there....
Although i'm more of a fan of psychological thrillers, but they can be just as bad sometimes as they get inside your brain...
anyhoo... im off to do essays, another form of tormenting your brain!
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